| Aside from your high school grades and SAT score, | | | | you will not be a good idea. A good essay should |
| your college essay will have a large bearing on your | | | | carry your voice - not your dad's or your uncle's. |
| approval. | | | | Remember: the biggest crime in writing college |
| Your high school record may not be spotless, with a | | | | essays is trying to sound like a 40-something |
| few Ds or even an F scattered over the transcript. | | | | professional when you are only 17. |
| These records are permanent and totally out of your | | | | * Do not write to impress, write to express. Do not |
| control. The same goes if you did not ace your SAT. | | | | inflate your accomplishments. Writing about what you |
| While it may be unfortunate if you are applying for a | | | | think the admission staff wants to hear is not a good |
| college, it happens to many students and it is normal. | | | | idea either. Talking about the current political situation |
| It will affect your application but it does not | | | | will not be as interesting as your own experiences. |
| necessarily ruin it. You still have a shot with your | | | | Write about what you know by heart. |
| college essay, | | | | * Be specific. Avoid general statements, clichés, |
| Your college essay will hold out the rest of your | | | | and predictable writing. Instead, use specific details in |
| application. Take time to write a compelling essay | | | | describing your experiences or articulating your ideas. |
| that will help you stand out from a hundred hopefuls. | | | | * Inject passion and creativity into your work to |
| It is your one chance to show the admission board | | | | avoid a boring, monotonous tone. Show intellectual |
| why you deserve a slot. | | | | curiosity and knowledge with a blend of creativity. |
| Your essay should show the admission board the | | | | Talk about your passion for your career choice. The |
| person behind the As or Ds. It should allow them not | | | | admission officer will be reading your essay from the |
| just a glimpse, but also a complete understanding of | | | | hundreds or thousands of others. At the end of the |
| your personality, values, aspirations, and your | | | | day, what t he will remember is the one that moved |
| commitment. | | | | him with infectious passion and youthful enthusiasm. |
| But do not confuse your college essay with a | | | | * Organize your essay. It is important to have your |
| resume or an autobiography. Listing down your | | | | point reflected in an interesting introduction, a clear |
| accomplishments and honors in high school does not | | | | body and a sealed conclusion. |
| automatically equal a good college essay. Here are a | | | | * Proofread. There is no room for typos and |
| few tips to help you come up with a readable and | | | | grammatical errors in your essays. Read and re-read |
| effective essay. | | | | your work until you are satisfied with it. Then have |
| * Write it yourself. Having someone else write it for | | | | someone else read it just to be on the safe side. |